Our Local Business
Promise for Peterborough was launched at a business breakfast in the city on
Monday 4 July. Local firms from a range of industries including law, finance,
lighting and business management found out more about how they can play a key
role in raising literacy levels in their community, and support the National
Literacy Trust Hub in Peterborough.
There are lots of
ways for companies of every size to get involved, including sponsoring
literacy projects or programmes in schools, employee volunteering,
fundraising and spreading literacy messages through their workforces.
Increasing local literacy skills will
have a significant impact in Peterborough where there is a higher than
average working age population who have not achieved a level 1 NVQ or
equivalent qualification (12% vs 9.5% UK average).
In some areas of
the city, 1 in 5 people (20.3%) lack functional literacy skills, making
everyday life difficult. Business leaders found out more about how they their
knowledge and resources can help drive up literacy levels in the city during
speeches from our Director, Jonathan Douglas, Gillian Beasley, Chief
Executive of Peterborough City Council and Ben Fletcher, Managing Director of
Boots Opticians.
Staff from the
Peterborough branches of Boots Opticians are participating in a nationwide
partnership with the National Literacy Trust highlighting the link between
eye health and literacy and each employee has been given two days a year to
volunteer in local schools. The Queensgate Centre branch in Peterborough has
also created a reading area for families in its waiting room.
Peterborough businesses interested in finding out more about the Local Business Promise for Peterborough should contact Rebecca Parsons at Rebecca.parsons@literacytrust.org.uk.
Businesses have a crucial role to play in raising literacy levels in our city and by making a Local Business Promise for Peterborough, companies will help to increase the city’s economic competiveness and social mobility. We are calling on local companies and firms to sign up to invest their knowledge and resources into driving up literacy levels in their workforces and communities, which will have dividends for everyone.
Sally Atkinson, Manager of the National Literacy Trust Hub in Peterborough
I’ve really enjoyed learning about the National Literacy Trust Hub’s innovative approach to tackling low literacy in local communities. I was at the exciting event because we at New Glow LED recognise the importance of literacy skills for the future of both our city and our business – I now feel inspired about the crucial role we can play in shaping the next generation’s future through signing up to the Local Business Promise for Peterborough and I’m already spreading the word across our local networks.
Gary Lorimer, Sales Director at Peterborough-based lighting company, New Glow LED
We want to do all we can to promote the importance of literacy in our local communities which is why we are signing up to the National Literacy Trust’s Local Business Promise for Peterborough. Our partnership with the National Literacy Trust Hub in Peterborough provides opportunities for us to share our love of books and is proving to be a wonderful experience for our staff and customers
Dave Webb, Store Manager of Boots Opticians in Peterborough